NORFOLK, Neb. -- As the end of summer is approaching one may think that their opportunity to stop and smell the roses has come and gone, but the local flower shop Floral Expressions in Norfolk is welcoming the coming months as they say it's their busiest time of year.  

Floral Expressions, a family-owned business, is gearing up to experience a higher volume of business as the year moves into the chillier seasons after seeing the usual decline during the summertime.  

Owner Jessica Messenger said that business typically picks back up once school starts, seeing high demand for activities such as homecoming, although holiday orders are the largest in quantity lasting through Valentine's Day.  

"Well, we're a Teleflora branded business, so Teleflora has certain bouquets that are branded for each holiday,” said Messenger. “So, we'll have things for Thanksgiving, Halloween even, and of course Christmas; we get Thomas Kinkade centerpieces in, and people will like things for those holiday tables, and you know wreaths for your doors, things for the mantlepiece, etc." 

Messenger said that despite the colder temperatures, they're able to keep their full inventory stocked including seasonal flowers using their wholesalers in Sioux City and Omaha. 

To keep flowers healthy the shop's florists practice extra care techniques to keep them in peak condition.  

"All of our flowers are given flower food and such to keep them freshest the longest, but we do if it's super cold out, we put them in bags to help protect them from the cold cold temperatures cause it gives them this like bubble of warm air,” said Messenger. “But if it's very very cold, we will actually not do deliveries that day just because it's not the best thing for the flowers, we'll schedule them for another day." 

The extra care for flowers can be costly over time, but Messenger said that they do a good job of mitigating any excessive decline.  

Aside from the flowers themselves, customers tend to shop for trinkets and other additions to add to their seasonal bouquets which helps make them unique.  

"It's never the same day twice. You know you never do the same arrangement twice for the most part even if it's a Teleflora branded arrangement,” said Messenger. “It's always just a little bit different, so it's actually kind of fun. I never know what's going to happen when I come into work every day."  

Floral Expressions attributes many sales to crafted bouquets, but still offers loose flowers for everyday sales. 

They are prepared to provide the care needed to take care of their plants during these colder months so that you can still come in and smell the roses, or at least for me Thursday's plant of the day.